Fabric contacting circuit closer for knitting machines



g 8, 1939 M. WACHSMAN 2,168,755

FABRIC CONTACTING CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR KNITTING MACHINES V Filed Oct. 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2(0) 19 ffl r 1 ml Hm IN V EN TOR. v

ATTO EY 1939. M. WACHSMAN 2,168,755

FABRIC CONTACTING CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

I4 TTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Fannie comao'rmo omcurr oLosEn. For; KNITTING memes Michael Wachsman, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application October 9, 1937, Serial no. 168,147 Claims. wise-1'66) This invention relates to improvements in circuit closers for knitting machines and has particular reference to a device for closing an electrical stop circuit by means of a fabric contacting detector. The object of the invention is to provide a circuit closing device including a fabric contacting detector for closing an electric circuit to actuate a knitting machine stopping device when atear, a run, a dropped stitch or other irregularity or abnormal condition appears or occurs in the knitted fabric.

The invention is embodied in a fabric contacting circuit closing mechanism arranged and constructed as hereinafter set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side View of a contacting detector according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof including a spacing collar.

Fig. 3 is 1 a contacting detector including a plurality of elements.

Fig. 4 is an edge view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view of the contacting head of the detector provided with a yielding contacting pin.

.Fig. 6 is a detail view of a detector provided with an adjustable weight.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of detachable detectors. Fig. 9 is a. view illustrating the use of the detectors on a knitting machine with rotary needle cylinder.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the contact ring used Fig. 14 is a detail view showing the use of a plurality of detectors according to Fig. 3 on a knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder.

Fig. 15 illustrates a particular type of detector. Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view ofthe contact ring used in Fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of the contacting detectors with relation to the knitting needles.

The circuit closing mechanism according to tend crosswise.

machine is illustrated but the knitting mechanism as an element in this'disclosure is identified diagrammatically by the rectangle l0-by means of 'which mechanism the yarns II are knitted together into a cylindrical fabric I2 which moves downward from the knitting mechanism in the direction of the arrows and which may be rotating as in Fig. 9, or non-rotating as in Figs. 11, 13 and 14.

The detector element according to this invention is in' the form of a thin flat lever or arm which may conveniently be stampedout of sheet metal. The detector is-adapted .to be used edgewise against the fabric to detect runs, dropped stitches, holes, tears and other abnormal conditions and to operate to close an electric stop circuit to stop the knitting machine so that i the trouble may be attended to and waste eliminated or poor knittingv detected.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a single detector which includes a hub l5 from which extends .a lever l6 ending in a contacting head ll. Diametrically opposite to the lever Hi there is a circuit closing finger l8- When the detectors are used side by sideas hereinafter explained they are mounted in spaced relation by means of thin collars IS. A number of such detectors may be combined into a detector element. Thus Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a. detector element comprising a hub I 5 from which four detector levers 20 ex- Each lever 20 ends in a contacting head I! the heads being of diiferent sizes and shapes as will be explained hereinafter. The detector element in Fig. 3 has no special circuit closing finger, one of the levers 20 being used for this purpose.

When the detectors are used for certain fine fabrics'or for other reasons it may be desirable to provide a yielding contacting element. Fig. 5 illustrates a construction by way of example in which there is mounted a pin 22 in yielding slidable relation to the detector head l'l. The pin is supported in upstanding lugs 23 and a spring urges the pin outward in an obvious manner. Inasmuch as the lever I6 in'Fig. 5 is unbalanced, sliding weights 24 such as shown in Fig. 6 may be used to balance the detector element. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate an element in which the detector levers are detachable from the hub. In these figures the hub of the element is marked 25 and has a supporting finger 26 extending to one side. The detector lever 21 is laid against the finger 26 and a sleeve 28 is slid down over the two elements. The lever 21 is pushed down until itv comes to rest upon the shaft II upon which the detectors are mounted when in use.

Fig. 9 illustrates the use of a plurality of detectors It on a knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder as indicated by the arrow II. In use there will be a detector for each wale of stitches in the fabric. This arrangement is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1'1 in which the wales of stitches in the fabric are indicated at II as produced by the needles )2 of whatever type of knitting mechanism is used. Opposite each wale of stitches there is mounted a detector element for instance the element il as hereinafter described. When a stitch is dropped or other abnormal condition occurs in the fabric, the detector head moves inwardly and causes the electric circuit to be closed.

In Fig. 9 the reference numeral 3! indicates a ring formed shaft within which the fabric passes downward from the knitting mechanism in the usual manner while theentire assembly rotates. Upon the shaft 35 there is mounted as many detectors it as there are wales in the fabric or needles used, the detectors extending inwardly from the shaft like the spokes in a wheel. detector heads I! rest by gravity against the fabric. or springs, not shown, to increase the friction between the detector heads and the fabric in an obvious manner. The shaft 35 is mounted to rotate with the knitting-mechanism II by means of any suitable framework 18 which also carries a contacting ring 31. The circuit closing fingers ll of the detectors are adapted to contact a contact ring-II toclose the circuit. The ring 38 is supported stationarily .by one ormore suitable supports 3!. A'contact spring 40 is mounted on the support 39 and engages the rotating contact ring 31;"The terminal wires 4! and 42 of the electric stop circuit are connected to the contact ring 38 and the contact 40.

If during the operation of the machine an abnormal condition occurs in the fabric whereby the resistance of the fabric to the'inward pressure of a detector head is removed or lessenedysuch detector head will move inward, being gravity actuated, the contact finger II will move outward and close the electric circuit by contact with the ring 38. The latter may have an uneven lower surface as indicated atv 43 inli'ig. to insure clean wiping contact between thefinger i8 and the ring. T

The detectors i may be used on a'knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder in the manner shown in Fig. 13 in which the detectors are mounted like the spokes in-a wheel on a stationary ring formed shaft I5 secured by suitable supports 44. The latter may also Supp rt the contact ring 45. In this figure theelectric circuit is shown complete including a battery 48 and an electromagnet 41 which operatestheshipping lever or other element 48 of the usual stop mechanism, not shown, to stop the machine in a well known manner. The contact ring 45 may have slits 49 to be engaged by the contact fingers II for good clean contact Fig. 16.

The detectors It will be mounted at any suitable elevation with relation to the knitting mechanism. It may not always be possible to mount the detectors as close to the knitting mechanism as is usually desirable in order to detect abnormal conditions as close to the needles as possible. 0r again, it may be desirable to employ special means to detect special types of tears or holes in the fabric close to the needles in addition to the The If desired weights such as 24 maybe used employment of the detectors I! as arranged in ring-formed relation to the fabric. It may therefore at times be necessary to employ one or more extra long detectors such as shown in Fig. in which a long detector BI is mounted on the shaft 35 so as to reach up under the knitting mechanism.

Fig. 11 illustrates the use of a single detector element according to Figs 3. The element is mounted on a shaft 62 and a detector lever is urged into frictional engagement with the fabric by a spring 53. A weight 24 may of course be used on the lowermost lever for the same purpose. Asupport 54 supports the shaft 52 and a suitable contact finger 55 When the fabric at the line of contact with the detector head I! collapses or becomes less in circumference due to a hole or tear, or when such a hole or tear knitted with a design which includes open work or openings. In such case the largest detector head will be turned into engagement with the fabric to bridge such holes so that the detector will not be actuated to close the circuit when such an intended opening comes opposite the detector head.

Detectors with a plurality of levers 20 may also be used in the manner described in connection with Fig. 13. Such use is illustrated in Fig. 14 in which a number of detector elements with levers iii are mounted side.by side on a ring formed shaft ill. The latter is carried by one or more supports ii. A contact ring 62 similar to the contact ring 45 is supported by arms 63 adjustably secured to the supports Si by thumb screws 64 for instance. A spring 65, one for each detector element, is attached between the latter and the arm 63 and urges the detector head into contact with the fabric in an obvious manner. When the contacting detector head moves inward due to an abnormal condition in the fabric another lever 20 engages the contact ring to close the circuit as will be understood. When it is desired to swing another lever 20 into operating position, the spring is detached, the thumb screw 84 loosened and the ring 62 lowered. Then the desired change is made and the parts moved back into position to operate. It will be noted that any of the elements 2| may be changed, without affecting the other elements on the shaft 60.

If it should be desired to employ a single detector close to a knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder a construction such as shown in Fig. 12 may be used. The detector i6 is here mounted upon a vertical shaft 10 to move laterally in the direction of the arrow 1i against the direction of movement of the fabric as indicated by the arrow 12. A spring 13 urges the lever into operative relation with the fabric. The contact finger ll will close the circuit which is indicated by the two terminal contacts 14. These may be mounted by any convenient means, not shown. If a tear occurs in the fabric the detector will machines comprising a ring formed shaft surswing inward, the circuit will be closed and the machine stopped.

The fabric contacting circuit closers for knitting machines according to this invention may be used singly or in as great a number as may be necessary to detect abnormal conditions in the fabric at any point thereof. They may be used with stationary or rotary needle cylinders and may be combined in any desired combinations some of which are shown in the drawings. These latter are illustrative only and I do not desire to limit myself to the exact disclosures herein otherwise than as is determined by the legitimate and intended scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fabric contacting circuit closer for knitting machines in which the knitted fabric has a movement away from the knitting mechanism comprising a ring formed shaft, a plurality of contact fingers on said shaft, said fingers being held by gravity in normal frictional contact with the fabric, there being a contact finger for each wale of stitches in the fabric, means supporting said shaft stationary relative to the movement of the fabric, a normally open electric stop circuit for the knitting'machine and means operated by the contact fingers to close the said electric circuit to stop the knitting machine when an abnormal condition in the 'moving fabric causes a termination of the normal frictional contact between the contact fingers and the fabric.

2.' A fabric contacting circuit closer for knitting machines having rotary needle cylinders in which the knitted fabric has a movement away from the needle cylinder and rotates therewith comprising a shaft, a plurality of contact fingers on said shaft in gravity actuated normal frictional contact with the fabric, there being a contact finger for each wale of stitches in the fabric, means supporting said shaft to rotate with the needle cylinder and the fabric and stationary relative to the movement of the fabric away from the needle cylinder, a normally open electric stop circuit for the knitting machine and means operated by the contact fingers to close said circuit to stop the lmitting machine when an abnormal condition in the moving fabric causes any one of said contact fingers to move away from itssaid normal frictional contact with the fabric.

n 3. A circuit closing mechanism for knitting rounding the knitted fabric as it comes from the knitting mechanism of said machine, a plurality of fabric contacting detectors on said shaft extending inwardly from the same in normal contact with the fabric under the influence of gravity, a contact ring, a normally open electric stop circuit for the knitting machine including said contact ring and detectors and a contact finger on each detector for engaging said contact ring to close the said circuit when any one of said detectors is moved into a circuit closing position because of a termination of said normal contact position between any one detector andthe fabric.

4. A circuit closing mechanism for rotary needle cylinder knitting machines comprising a ring formed shaft surrounding the knitted fabric as it comes from the needle cylinder of the machine, a plurality of gravity actuated detectors on said shaft in normal contact with the said fabric, means connecting said shaft to rotate with the needle cylinder, a stationary contact ring, a normally open electric stop circuit for the knitting machine including said contact ring and detectors and a contact finger on each detector for engaging said contact ring to close the said circuit when any one of said detectors is moved into a circuit closing position because of a termination of said normal contact position between any one detector and the fabric.

5. A circuit closing mechanism for knitting machines comprising a ring formed shaft surrounding the knitted fabric as it comes from the knitting mechanism of the machine, a plurality of detector elements on said shaft extending inwardly therefrom, each of said detector elements including a plurality of detector levers, means for keeping any one of said levers in normal frictional contact with the fabric, a contact ring, a normally open electric stop circuit for the knitting machine including said contact ring and the said detector elements, one of said detector levers in each of said detector elements serving to engage said contact ring to close the said stop circuit when any one of the said detector levers is moved into a circuit closing position because of a termination of said normal contact between the fabric and the said detector lever.

MICHAEL WACHSMAN. 

